Friday, July 22, 2011
Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte recently qualified for the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Silver Performance Achievement Award. In addition, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville qualified for the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Bronze Quality Achievement Award for referral hospitals. The awards recognize Presbyterian’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients that effectively improves the survival and care of STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) patients.
STEMI is the most serious type of heart attack affecting almost 250,000 annually. Unfortunately, a significant number don't receive prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate STEMI patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline is focusing on improving the system of care for these patients and at the same time improving care for all heart attack patients.
Hospitals involved in Mission: Lifeline strive to improve care in both acute treatment measures and discharge measures. Systems of care are developed that close the gap of timely access to appropriate, life-saving treatments. Before they are discharged, appropriate patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in the hospital and receive smoking cessation counseling.
Hospitals that receive the Mission: Lifeline Achievement Silver Awards have demonstrated for 12 consecutive months that at least 85 percent of eligible STEMI patients (without contraindications) are treated within specific time frames upon entering the hospital and discharged following the American Heart Association’s recommended treatment guidelines. Bronze Award winners have achieved the same level of treatment for at least 90 consecutive days.
“We have committed tremendous resources to ensure we offer our community integrated and comprehensive heart attack care that has been recognized nationally for quality measures,” said Jason Bernd, VP of Cardiac Services at Presbyterian Hospital. “This award doesn’t just address what we have done with STEMI care, but also how well we have worked with our local EMS, our physicians and staff, which is what makes it challenging to achieve. We are pleased to be recognized two years in a row for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care.”
Only two hospitals, both part of the pilot project, received the gold award; neither is in North Carolina. As of July 1, 2011, Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte was one of just seven in the state of North Carolina to receive the silver designation. Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews were two of only three referral hospitals nationwide to receive bronze recognition as of July 1, 2011.
Presbyterian Hospitals in Charlotte, Matthews and Huntersville all have nationally accredited chest pain centers and are in the top 10 percent nationwide for heart attack care five years in a row. If you or a loved one suffers a heart attack, dial 9-1-1 immediately and ask to be taken to Presbyterian.
